Tag: Michigan

Arena

For the 57th time, Detroit gives the Ilitch family taxpayer money only for them to not finish the part that benefits taxpayers

A few months into 2023, the Ilitch family decided that they had no gotten enough taxpayer money out of the city and state. So the city of Detroit gave them “significant savings on property taxes for the next 30 years”. You may be wondering why the city is giving them a tax break? Well, these tax savings, according to the city, will “be used to fund the development of the District Detroit project”. Excuse me? The project that the Ilitch family got millions for previously and did nothing? Some estimate that the total subsidy given to the Ilitch family…

William Neilson Jr.
Arena Ballpark Stadium

Yet another “historic” community benefits agreement…this time in Chattanooga

In July, the Chattanooga Lookouts, a minor league baseball team, reached an agreement with the city to build a new ballpark. Although the price was originally going to be $79.5 million, the final price tag was actually $120 million. Not to worry, though, as the public contribution amount is capped at…$112 million? Ever since 2022, local groups in Chattanooga have been pressuring local officials to make sure that the community was represented whenever a community benefits agreement (CBA) was discussed.

William Neilson Jr.
Stadium

Detroit City FC continue pushing for a new stadium, yet give almost no details about the project

Ok, but is Detroit City FC going to ask the city or state to give any money for this project? This will be “finalized in the coming months”. In the last few weeks, DCFC leaders have publicly claimed that when it comes to taxpayer money, the team “will be civic with how they finance the stadium” and will not be “asking for a large sum of public money to fund it”. They will be needing something from taxpayers. Since the team is likely going to use the city's Community Benefits Ordinance process for building the stadium, this means that…

William Neilson Jr.
Arena

Little Caesars Arena was going to change Detroit per the Ilitch Family, then it did nothing

Back in 2014, the city of Detroit was debating what to do with their old arena that the Detroit Red Wings played in. On one hand, they could do nothing and let the Red Wings figure out what to do on their own. On the other hand, they could give the Red Wings owners, the Ilitch Family, hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to build a new arena. When the Ilitch family initially proposed a new $450 million dollar arena and placed it in downtown Detroit, they were praised for the location by many. This new arena was going…

William Neilson Jr.